Q: Do I need a PASSPORT to enter Costa Rica?

A: Yes. Beginning January 1, 2003, foreign visitors must have a current passport to enter the Republic of Costa Rica. Tourists are welcome to stay here for up to three months—plenty of time for you to visit Oro Verde!

Q: What is Costa Rica's CURRENCY and what FORMS OF PAYMENT do you accept?

A: Our national currency is the colón. We also accept U.S. dollars, but no credit cards. (A good currency converter chart can be found on the Internet at www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet).

Q: What's the WEATHER like there?

A: There are no reliable meteorlogical data yet for our little part of the country. At our elevation of nearly 1000 feet (305 m), located so near the coast, the average annual temperature probably ranges between 77°- 81°F (25°-27°C); the average minimum temperature is about 68°F (20°C), and the average maximum is 86°F (30°C). In December, daytime highs are usually in the high 70°s F (21°C) or low 80°s F (27°C) (typically 78°F, 26°C), and the nighttime temperature runs an almost constant 72°F (22°C). It's quite pleasant here!

There is almost always a light breeze flowing either down from the mountain ridge behind us or up from the deep valley and ocean below. As a consequence, flying and stinging insects like mosquitoes and sand fleas are rarely much of a problem at Oro Verde. They don't like the breeze very much.

We probably receive over 200 inches (500 cm) of rain annually, which keeps our forest very lush and green.

Q: What are the BEST MONTHS TO VISIT Oro Verde?

A: Every one is great! Our green season runs from May through November; it is less wet from December through April. The rainiest—but also the most beautiful, lush green—months are October and November. Most of the rain here falls in the afternoon and early evening. Any month is a good month to visit Oro Verde—just begin your days a little earlier during the green season and you'll have a wonderful, relaxing experience.

Hotel and car rental prices are somewhat lower during the green season. That's why the travel people refer to it as the "low" season, as opposed to the "high" season. Making matters even more confusing, we Costa Ricans refer to our rainy season as el invierno—winter—even though most of it falls in what the North Americans call their summer. Go figure.

Whatever the time of year, Oro Verde is home to a lot of migratory birds. Many species fly north to Costa Rica from South America to escape the winter down there; even more fly south from North America during the cold months up there. They are all most welcome vacationers at Oro Verde—just as you will be!

Q: What kind of CRIME PROBLEMS are there in Costa Rica?

A: Costa Rica is a peaceful, stable, two-party democracy, and we have no army! But as in every country, we have a few lawbreakers, especially in rough parts of large cities like our capitol, San José. So please check with your hotel or travel guide before venturing out in the big city on your own. Petty theft is a growing problem in our country, but can be avoided by taking a few common sense precautions: (1) leave expensive jewelry, etc. at home; (2) travel with a companion when possible, especially at night; (3) keep doors and windows locked; (4) don't leave anything in your car, even if you lock it; (5) don't drive any distances at night; and (6) avoid bars and other places that tend to attract criminal activity. In our little part of Costa Rica, things are muy tranquilo, amigo.

Q: What kind of HEALTH PROBLEMS are there in Costa Rica?

A: In our area of Costa Rica, we are fortunate to have very few health problems. Our drinking water at Oro Verde is good, as is general sanitation. Cases of dengue fever have been reported in some other parts of our country, but fortunately not in ours yet. Dengue fever (and malaria, which is also quite rare here) are spread by mosquitoes, so the best precaution is to keep the buggers off of you with an insect repellant that contains a lot of DEET. (Deep Woods Off sells a nice combination sun block/insect repellant lotion.)

Q: How much ENGLISH is spoken in Costa Rica?

A: Aquí se habla mucho inglés...oops, we meant to say English is fairly widely spoken in Costa Rica, although we Duartes at Oro Verde admittedly could stand some improvement. But hey, what can't be said with a warm smile and a handshake, anyway?

Q: Is the WATER safe to drink in Costa Rica?

A: Generally yes. When in doubt, drink bottled water, which is widely available throughout our country. We also have a small supply of pure bottled water for you at Oro Verde.

Q: Are there a lot of MOSQUITOES at Oro Verde?

A: We don't seem to have many mosquitoes around here and rarely encounter them on our daytime hikes, owing to the slight breeze that almost continually favors our mountainous area. Most mosquito species in our region of the country are active only at dusk, dawn, and at night. The most serious tropical disease in Costa Rica (which hasn't occurred in our area for many years) is dengue fever, which is transmitted by a day-flying mosquito (Aedes aegypti). Actually, our main insect pests are nearly invisible—chiggers and sand fleas. They usually won't bother you, but preventative measures (such as applying insect repellant that contains the chemical DEET, tucking-in long pants, etc.) should be taken before walking in grassy areas, or at the beach very early or late in the day (or at night). These are the times and places where the little buggers are most active. The key to success is keeping the little nippers off your body with a good insect repellant. Deep Woods Off offers a variety of effective products, including a combination sun block/insect repellant lotion. When in doubt, slather up and wash it off later.

Q: How SAFE is it to hike in the rainforest at Oro Verde?

A: You'll have a safe and enjoyable hike if you follow these six simple safety tips:

1. Stay with your Oro Verde guide and remain on our established hiking trails.

2. Look carefully before touching anything while outdoors.

3. Wear suitable footware (no open sandals) on your hike.

4. Don't put your feet or hands anywhere you can't see.

5. Don't handle any wildlife or unknown plants.

6. Don't feed the animals.

Q: OK, so you say I'll be safe on my hike, but aren't there any venomous SNAKES there?

A: It's natural to be curious about what kind of venomous snakes are found in Oro Verde. Although you're not likely to see any, there are a few around here (after all this is a tropical nature reserve!). Our número uno concern is a pit viper known as the fer-de-lance (terciopelo, or velvet, in Spanish). It inflicts two-thirds of the venomous bites in Costa Rica and, yes, we do have some in our area. As adults, these interesting creatures are found on the ground, where they commonly still-hunt, often lurking, coiled up, without any movement for days at a time, awaiting a passing rodent. They are dangerous because they are so well-camoflaged and when approached they usually don't run away like most other snakes, and they can strike aggressively and without warning.

Oro Verde is also home to a few members of the palm pitviper family like the eyelash viper (oropel or bocacará). These are arboreal species, so we rarely encounter them on the ground. We also have a few rarely-seen hog-nosed vipers (tamagá) and also some even rarer bushmasters (matabueys) in the deep forest.

But if you stay on our established trails you really aren't likely to see any of these charming critters.

Q: What are the LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES like?

A: The nearest hospitals are located in the towns of San Isidro and in Ciudad Cortéz and both are about an hour's drive from Oro Verde. There are no ambulances or fire trucks in our area, although a doctor can sometimes be found in the little town of Uvita located about 20 minutes away.

Be sure to bring along an adequate supply of any prescribed medications you might need because well-stocked pharmacies are few and far between in Costa Rica—especially in our remote part of the country. If you have any allergy sensitivities to things such as bee stings, plants, certain foods, pollens, etc., be sure to bring along with you whatever emergency medications you might require.

Q: How's the SNORKELING there?

A: The best place to snorkel around here is at the Ballena Marine National Park, preferably at low tide. (You can obtain the tide data for Puntarenas on the Internet at www.costarica.com/tides/tides.html). Even if you don't snorkel, one of the most beautiful and breathtaking sights here is to walk out to the Whale's Tail at low tide, look back and gaze at the miles-long, lush green mountainous coast. You can easily see Oro Verde's cloud forest from there! Don't be surprised if you're the only one on this incredible beach, though! It's quite isolated.

Q: Are there any LOCAL BOOKSTORES?

A: We're about four hours away from the nearest bookstore—and almost everything there is in Spanish, so bring along something to read in your favorite language.

Q: Are there any SPECIAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS to take while in your area of Costa Rica?

A: Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when you're visiting our lovely part of Costa Rica:

Use caution when handling UNRIPE MANGOES if you're sensitive to poison ivy (the skin of the mango can cause a similar rash).

Beware of SUNBURN (we're only 9° above the equator and our Costa Rican sun can fry anybody—even on a cloudy day).

Wear SUITABLE FOOTWARE for the occasion (e.g., sandals are a lousy choice for hiking in the rainforest, loafers are better to wear outside at night than open-air sandals, and it's best not to walk around barefoot anywhere outside at night).

Avoid stepping on WET, SLIPPERY ROCKS when hiking.

AFRICANIZED BEES are now found throughout Latin America. We have not yet encountered any problems with these so-called "killer" bees at Oro Verde, but they are in our area. Quietly avoid them; if stung, quickly run away to a shelter such as a house or car (when you get inside, close the windows and turn the air conditioner setting to "high"), or get to deep water where you can immerse yourself and and breathe through your hat or clothing until things settle down. Cover your head as much as possible because bees tend to target the head and eyes; also, don't flail or swing your arms at the bees because that could further annoy them.

There are RIP CURRENTS ("rip tides") at many of the beaches in our area, including Barú, the south/east portion of Uvita beach, at the Marine National Park, etc. Rip currents are responsible for 80% of the ocean drownings in Costa Rica and one or two occur in our area each year. There are no lifeguards and no warning signs at our local beaches, so it is important to ask the locals about any dangers before going in the water. Just as important, you should know what rip currents are, where they're likely to be found, and what to do if you find yourself in one of them.

It's always a good idea to swim with a buddy and to place a visible reference marker on the beach to gauge the direction and extent of your drift while swimming in the ocean. Also, while in the ocean, shuffle rather than walk through the sand to avoid stepping on a painful STINGRAY BARB.

Before going surf or river fishing, check with the locals regarding any potential wildlife concerns in the area, like CAIMANS and CROCODILES.

If camping out overnight in or near the forest, take suitable precautions to protect against VAMPIRE BAT bites and other such critters.